Beckwourth Ranger District

Named after early pioneer James Beckwourth and nearby geography honoring his name, the Beckwourth Ranger District encompasses the eastern side of the Plumas National Forest. It transitions from the Sierra Nevada crest on the west, to the Great Basin on the east. Glaciated subalpine peaks give way to expansive Eastside Pine forests and numerous meadows. The district office is in Mohawk, California, on the Middle Fork Feather River at the foot of Penman Peak.

The district manages acres of land that include all or part of :

• Lake Davis

• Frenchman Lake

• The northern section of the Lakes Basin area, including Gold Lake, Mills Peak, Frazier Falls, Mount Elwell and Mount Washington.

• The eastern section of the Diamond Mountains, locally known as "the Escarpment", including Mount Adams, Crystal Peak, Meadow View Peak and Thompson Peak.

• Beckwourth Peak

• Black Mountain

• Dixie Mountain

• Smith Peak

• Haskell Peak

• Penman Peak

• Red Clover Valley

• Mount Engels

• Squaw Queen Peak

• Crocker Mountain

The major watersheds include Last Chance Creek, Clarks Creek, Squaw Queen Creek, Red Clover Creek, Little Last Chance Creek, Big Grizzly Creek, Nelson Creek, Gray Eagle Creek and Frazier Creek which all eventually drain, along with most of the district, into the Feather River, through the Middle Fork or the East Branch of the North Fork via Indian Creek. The most northern and eastern fringe drains into the endorrheic basin of Long Valley Creek and Honey Lake.

Inhabitants of the area include deer, bear, coyote, fox, eagle, osprey, hawk, owl, jay, quail, grouse, beaver, marten, marmot, racoon, skunk, badger and several prolific species of squirrel. Elk are increasing and the rare antelope or wolf utilize the area. Waterbodies have populations of Rainbow Trout and the Sierra Nevada Yellow Legged Frog.

Forests consist of Ponderosa Pine, Jeffrey Pine, White Fir, Douglas Fir, Incense Cedar, Sugar Pine, Lodgepole Pine, Red Fir, Sierra Juniper, Western Juniper, California Black Oak, Western White Pine, and Mountain Hemlock. Brush includes Greenleaf Manzanita, Tobaccobrush, Bitterbrush, Sagebrush, Serviceberry, Cherry, and Whitethorn.

Aspen, Cottonwood, Dogwood, Willow, and Sedge inhabit riparian areas.

Indigenous human populations have inhabited the area for at least 5000 years, with lithic scatter and grindstones remaining as testament to their communities.

The area is managed for commercial timber, livestock grazing, firewood harvest, and recreation. Snowmobiling, snow shoeing, mountain biking, hiking, backcountry touring, hunting, fishing, boating and camping are popular activities.

The district forest abuts population centers in Blairsden-Graeagle, Portola, the northern Sierra Valley and the Honey Lake Valley, including Milford and Janesville. The nearest cities are Susanville and Reno.